patton’s own

JULY 13, 2005

PATTON’S

OWNPEACHTREE

ROADRACE

PAGE 6

2 Desert Voice July 13, 2005

Volume 26, Issue 48The Desert Voice is an authorized publication for members of theDepartment of Defense. Contents of the Desert Voice are notnecessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S.Government or Department of the Army. The editorial content ofthis publication is the responsibility of the Coalition Forces LandComponent Command Public Affairs Office. This newspaper ispublished by Al-Qabandi United, a private firm, which is not affiliated with CFLCC. All copy will be edited. The Desert Voice isproduced weekly by the Public Affairs Office.

Page 3 CG’s Message

Pages 6&7 On your marks

Pages 8&9 377th: ready, rotate

Page 4 Another round, sir?

Page 5 OK, let’s wrap this up

Page 11 Community Events

Back page Troop submissions

Fighting a global war on terror requires thehelp of friends all over the world.Fortunately, the United States has allies allover the world helping to end terrorism.

Nearly every troop in the 377th TheaterSupport Command is rotating out of Kuwait.To celebrate their year of toil and success,the command threw one heck of an organi-zational day, possibly redefining the meaningof the term.

More than a thousand folks woke at the crackof dawn to run in Patton’s Own PeachtreeRoad Race July 4, including 26-time race run-ner Brig. Gen. William Johnson, who organ-ized the desert run.

OK, maybe it’s a tad self-serving, but after ayear running the Desert Voice and broadcastoperations for the Coalition Forces LandComponent Command, the 14th PublicAffairs Detachment is giving a last-minuteintroduction.

Poems by Timothy R. Dillingham and Spc.Taleatha Samantha John-Jules; Comic byMaj. James D. Crabtree.

On the coverPatton’s Own Peachtree Road Race, held inconjuction with Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race,the biggest 10-kilometer foot race in the world,drew a bigger than expected crowd at CampArifjan for the Fourth of July.Illustration by Sgt. Matt Millham

CONTENTS 48CFLCC Commanding GeneralLt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb

CFLCC Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sgt. Maj. Julian Kellman

CFLCC Public Affairs OfficerCol. Michael Phillips

Commander 14th PADMaj. Thomas E. Johnson

NCOIC 14th PADSgt. Scott White

Desert Voice Editor Sgt. Matt Millham

Desert Voice Assistant EditorSpc. Aimee Felix

Desert Voice Staff WritersSpc. Curt CashourSpc. Brian Trapp

14th PAD BroadcasterSpc. Charles Spears

14th PAD Graphic ArtistSgt. Sergio Exposito

Page 10 Coalition in the coalitionGreat Britain, which has the second largestcontingent in Iraq next to the United States,counts Nepalese soldiers among its ranks.

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6

8

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Most troops finishing their year in Kuwaitlook forward to their much-deserved returnhome. Maj. Shawn Gamaldi decided heliked being right where he was and extend-ed for another year here.

Mexican music night, Walking Club, Airhockey tournament, Bazaars, Gina Notrica.

3Desert Voice July 13, 2005

Allies Help Give Freedom a ChanceBy Lt. Gen. R. Steven WhitcombCFLCC Commanding General

In the news these days there has beenan abundance of speculation regarding theprospects for the futures of Iraq andAfghanistan and plenty of doubt about thechances that those nations’ citizens will everadopt a truly democratic way of life. Somesay there is too much violence or that ethnicdivisions are too deep to allow hope to sur-vive, let alone flourish. Others claim theUnited States doesn’t have the will to con-tinue the fight. To the detractors and to ourfolks here who work hard every day to sup-port our efforts throughout the CFLCC andARCENT area of responsibility I’d like topoint out a couple of things.

A few years ago, the U.S. was called uponto intervene when a certain brutal leaderbegan an ethnic cleansing program in a partof the world known as the Balkans. Manypolitical pundits of the day proclaimed theintervention was destined to be tossed on thetrash heap historians label lost causes. Afterall, they said, the national and ethnic tensionsbetween groups in that part of the world wereso fierce and went back so long that we couldnever hope to bring peace to the region.

Today, the countries that comprise theBalkans are well on their way to resumingwhat most would call a normal life. No longerdo the people in that part of the world haveto fear the wrath of dictators or goons. Infact, a contingent of Bosnian soldiers was

recently dispatched to this theater to helpmaintain the security and stability that is sovital to freedom in Iraq. These are soldierswho have personally witnessed a transforma-tion from war to peace. These are soldierswho now want to help provide for others thevery thing they have only recently acquired –stability and hope for the future.

To those who claim the U.S. won’t stick itout or is too impatient to commit to the long-term success of a people I would suggestthey consider the example of South Korea.U.S. military men and women remain in thatarea today more than 55 years after theywere first called to defend against thethreats coming from the north. Since the“temporary” cease fire was signed in 1953,the people of South Korea have lived infreedom and prospered under a democraticsystem that gives the power of the govern-ment to the people. The Republic of Korea,too, has sent a division of Soldiers to helpnourish the fledgling democracy in Iraq.

When you see news stories in the paperor on the internet or on TV you might noticethat many use only a snapshot of the day’sheadlines to make sweeping predictions.Keep in mind - and take stock - of theaccomplishments of the U.S. Army and oursister services over the past 230 years. Ourmen and women have a long tradition ofsacrificing so that others might have whatwe have – freedom. In most of the placeswhere we have fought against repression,the people continue today to enjoy a better

way of life.Freedom grows inthe places whereit’s given achance and onceit starts spread-ing, there is usu-ally no stopping it.

We are givingfreedom thechance it needsin Iraq andAfghanistan andwe’re doing every-thing we can to ensure that it will take rootand grow stronger with each future genera-tion.

So the next time you hear a reporter ormedia pundit predicting doom and gloomafter a tough day of fighting, keep your eyeon the long-term view and remember thatour track record is the best in the world.

In our nation’s history, nearly 750,000Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen havedied while giving others a chance to live in asociety free of fear or repression; a shot atprosperity and the pursuit of happiness.

Take great pride in what we do and trynot to get caught up in the day to day shift-ing opinions of the “experts.”

Thanks to every one of you for your workhere as part of the Third Army/CFLCCteam.

Patton’s Own.

Lt. Gen. Whitcomb

Anthrax resumes

Photo by Spc. Aimee Felix

After anthrax vaccinations resumed July 5 ona voluntary basis for servicemembers,Department of Defense civilians and U.S. con-tractors working in the Coalition Forces LandComponent Command area of operations, Brig.Gen. James Milano, operations officer for CFLCC,got an anthrax vaccine injection at Camp Arifjan.The voluntary program will expire July 27.

The new Anthrax Vaccine ImmunizationProgram follows the conditions of an emergencyuse authorization issued by the FDA. The EUA isa provision that allows the use of unapproveddrugs or the unapproved use of approved drugsif the secretary of defense determines that thereis a military emergency.

Under the new plan, CFLCC medical unitshave to inform all CFLCC personnel of the possible threat from anthrax as a bio-tterrorismweapon and of the safety of the current anthraxvaccine. They must also give CFLCC personnelthe opportunity to continue their anthrax vaccination series while in the CFLCC area ofoperations.


Fourth of July fireworks atKuwaiti Naval Base boom along tothe Star Wars soundtrack. About600 American and Kuwaiti troopsshowed up at KNB’s beach for the10-mminute display, said assistantMWR officer for Kuwait JamesTiessen.

“Being that we’re over here fight-ing for freedom, the fireworks werevery touching,” said Navy PettyOfficer 1st Class Christopher L.Bristow, who floated in fromNorfolk, Va., about a week ago withhis unit, Landing Craft Unit 1644.Bristow and his buddies came tothe show to be reminded of home.

After the fireworks display, Capt.John Naki showed the movie“Independence Day” in a mini the-ater set up at the beach. Naki,KNB’s MWR officer, coordinatedthe event and Tiessen got theapproval and money to make ithappen.

The bombs bursting in air

Photo by Sgt. Matt Millham

Another round, sir?Story and photo by Master Sgt. Hak Haskins377th Theater Support Command Public Affairs

The hot morning that most members ofthe 230th Area Support Group were stand-ing in line to load some of their military gearfor shipment back to the States Maj. ShawnGamaldi slept in.

What’s the point of mustering at 4:30a.m. if one doesn’t have to?

Gamaldi kept his TA-50 stowed in hisroom because neither his gear nor his bodyare going anywhere soon.

The major is one of a handful of Soldierscurrently assigned to the 377th TheaterSupport Command who chose to extendtheir tours.

“I feel I am participating in a real worldmission,” he said. “I like this feeling.”

All Soldiers within the 377th TSC weregiven the opportunity to extend, assumingtheir specialties would be needed for thecoming rotation.

Gamaldi, a helicopter pilot by trade whois currently the operations officer for thedeployment-redeployment section, will keephis job for another year.

Meanwhile, most current 377th TSCSoldiers will be headed home in the next

few weeks. With few exceptions, they havenot masked their anticipation for gettingthere sooner, not later.

In a climate where deployments forReserve Soldiers are the norm, not theexception, career citizen-Soldiers can alsoanticipate making a return trip overseas oran assignment Stateside. The Departmentof Defense and all four service brancheshave made clear that Reserve forces willremain an integral part of the nation’s activedefense.

Several members of the 377th are nowcompleting their second or third tours since9/11.

Gamaldi, an 18-year veteran of theTennessee National Guard, considered thatas a fact of life when making his decision toremain in Kuwait. Once he begins his sec-ond tour with the 377th it will mark his fifthdeployment since 1997; Kuwait, Kosovoand Germany have been his duty assign-ments.

At the beginning of his second full tour inKuwait in 2002 he closed down the commer-cial pressure washing business he ownedand operated in Nashville. The equipmentremains in storage awaiting his return.

“I would rather stay and do this job, one

that I know, than get caught up” in a futuredeployment where the location and dailytasks were not to his liking.

Camp Arifjan isn’t Nashville – his hometown – but it’s not the Horn of Africa, either,where living conditions are much moreSpartan.

After consulting his wife he chose to stay.“Yes, there is money involved, but it’s not allabout the money,” he said of the theater’stax-free status. “There is a sense of duty,pride and accomplishment all mingledtogether.”

From the 377th Theater Support CommandSafety Office

Vehicle rollovers are a common problem intheater. Some of the contributing factors inthese incidents are:1. Speeding: Vehicle speed is critical and

easy to control. Obey posted speed limits, and drive according to the road condition. Don’t speed!

2. Load Security: Ensure all loads are secured, properly blocked, braced and cushioned. This will prevent loads from shifting.

3. Trailer Towing: Exercise caution when tow-ing trailers; remember that turning radius and breaking distances are greater. To help prevent rollovers, take the following

precautions:1. Slow down for curves and on inclined roads.2. Remember to ALWAYS wear your seat belt.3. Perform PMCS before, during and after

your mission to keep your vehicle in good operating condition.

For questions or comments contact 377thsafety @ 430-6113 MAJ. Phelps or 430-54141LT. Surgi.

Safety CornerRollover Prevention


OK, let’s wrap this upStory and photo by Master Sgt. Hak Haskins377th Theater Support Command Public Affairs

If staying busy helps quicken time duringa deployment, then Sgt. Scott White andSpc. Charles Spears will need to be remind-ed when it’s time to go home.

That duo is part of the 14th Public AffairsDetachment, a nine-Soldier outfit from FortCarson, Colo., charged with providing ser-vicemembers deployed to Kuwait press cov-erage here and back home.

The most visible part of the unit’s job isthe Desert Voice magazine.White has written only two stories for theaward-winning publication since arriving lastJuly; Spears has yet to turn in a by-line.

That doesn’t mean they’ve redefinedshamming: they are broadcast journalists. Though they seldom exercise their craftbehind a microphone or camera, they han-dle the hundreds of requests for footage ofSoldiers – and troops from other servicebranches – that flow into theater in a never-ending stream.

The PAD has supported news outletslarge and small from ABC, CNN, Fox News,MNSBC and the BBC to the Mountaineer,the newspaper that serves Fort Carson.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know thatwe’ve reached so many people,” saidWhite.

When Secretary of Defense DonaldRumsfeld held a town hall meeting at CampBuehring in December, the PAD’s camerawork was watched by an estimated 10 mil-lion viewers.

In one 30-day span in the fall of 2004,Spears personally interviewed 1,500Soldiers for aHometown Newsholiday greetingsprogram. All ofthem earned airtime back in theStates.

The broadcast-ers and theirproducts have reached more eyes and ears,but it’s the print journalists who are the bestknown in theater.

The Desert Voice has a weekly circula-tion of about 5,000, up 1,000 from a yearago; new editions are usually snapped upwithin 48 hours of deliveries, and requestsfor back issues are common, said Sgt. MattMillham, the publication’s current editor.

The PAD’s print journalists provide prod-

ucts for the Army News Service, home townmedia outlets and other military magazines.

He estimated somewhere around 1,000servicemembers had been interviewed forthe 49 editions the PAD will produce beforeit rotates home later this month; the editionswere 12-page, all-color affairs that con-tained Soldier stories, cartoons and campactivity schedules.

The magazine was named ForcesCommand’s top magazine for 2004 and theArmy’s third best overall for the same time

frame.“We wanted to

produce somethingthat people wantedto look at becausethey knew theywere going to getsomething out ofit,” Millham said.

“We wanted more features – more localstuff – that people would be interested in.”

The PAD mapped a plan long before ittouched down in Kuwait on August 1, 2004.“We were able to stick to it relatively close

but you never know, coming into a situationlike this, what someone else is expectingfrom you. They have more input into whatyou produce than you may like sometimes,”Millham said. Never-the-less, “I don’t think

I’ve ever seen an Army publication thatallowed its journalists as much freedom toexpress themselves.”

The unit’s high-end technical expertisehad always been an assumption, said com-manding officer Maj. Thomas Johnson; halfof the unit’s enlisted Soldiers have bache-lor’s degrees, two hold master’s degreesand much of that sheepskin came throughschools of journalism.

“We had a year to plan to be technicallyand tactically proficient in everything otherthan writing and broadcasting,” Johnsonsaid. “The hard part was teaching, mentor-ing and ensuring the unit could do the otherstuff,” Johnson said.

“There was never a lull … you are inter-acting with all kinds of lifestyles and tellingpeoples’ stories,” Johnson said. Some ofthe unit’s members spent brief stints in Iraq,and one of its troops, Spc. Brian Trapp,found himself in a firefight in An Najaf latelast year. “Those kinds of things make itexciting every day,” the major said.

Excitement notwithstanding, members ofthe 14th PAD are anticipating the cool, crispair of Fort Carson.

“After 65 to 70 hours a week for 11months, garrison duty sounds really appeal-ing,” said Spc. Curt Cashour, one of theDesert Voice’s award-winning writers.

“After 65 to 70 hours a weekfor 11 months, garrison dutysounds really appealing.”

– Spc. Curt Cashour

Thousands of interviews, hundreds of articles and dozens of notebooks later, thelone public affairs unit serving Kuwait prepares to hand over the desert’s voice

Spc. Charles Spears briefs a group of troops before they go on camera. During his year inKuwait, Spears taped more than 1,500 people for hometown greetings.


On your marksBy Spc. Curt Cashour

It’s a question almost as old as the military itself: what is there to do topass precious free time in the midst of a long deployment?

Some troops swap war stories; others immerse themselves in DVDs orbooks. Servicemembers and civilians from U.S. military installations acrossKuwait brought more than 20 years of running tradition to the confines ofCamp Arifjan.

More than 1,000 servicemembers and civilians participated in the Patton’sOwn version of the 10 Kilometer Peachtree Road Race July 4 at CampArifjan.

The race was held in conjunction with the original Peachtree event. Heldannually in downtown Atlanta, the stateside race typically draws about55,000 participants and is considered the world’s most popular 10K roadrace.

Minutes before the run’s 5 a.m. start time, contestants mingled near thestart point, stretching, chatting and posing for photographs against a back-drop of patriotic tunes such as James Brown’s “Living in America.”

Mark Woelzlein was actually slated to run in the Atlanta version of therace. He had to cancel his plans, however, when he received orders todeploy to Camp Doha with his unit, the 335th Theater Signal Command, anArmy Reserve unit based at Camp Doha. He found out about the Patton’sOwn run about a week ago during his in-processing brief. Woelzlein, 43, wasone of 13 335th Soldiers who left Doha at 3 a.m. to make the trip, he said.

So why would someone want to brave the desert heat and rise in the wee

Patton’s Own Peachtree Road Race organizer Brig. Gen. William Johnson uses a starter’s pistol to kick off the race July 4.

The nearly 1,000 race participants await the start.

Photo by Spc. Curt Cashour



hours of the morning for a run?Some ran for the competition,some ran to push themselvesand some just ran for somethingto do.

“Just for the excitement, thechallenge,” said 40-year-old335th Soldier Mark Benton.

Bryan Abregano and StevenRonquillo, both of the 487thField Artillery, a National Guardunit from Oahu, Hawaii, got upat 3 a.m. to drive from KuwaitiNaval Base to attend the run.Though they weren’t competing,the pair made the trip so theycould cheer on their squadleader Joe Kanwale.

The event was the brainchildof Brig. Gen. William Johnson,director of movement and distri-bution management for CoalitionForces Land ComponentCommand. Johnson, an Atlantanative who has participated ineach of the last 26 Peachtreeraces, got the idea for thePatton’s Own race last yearwhile deployed to Kuwait.

Johnson wasn’t about to lethis deployment prevent him fromparticipating in the run, so hemapped out a 10K course atCamp Arifjan, completed his run,and sent the results to race pro-prietors with the Atlanta TrackClub. Back then, he was the onlyparticipant in Kuwait. This year,however, he worked with AtlantaTrack Club staff to broaden over-seas participation, he said.

With a starter pistol in onehand and a cell phone in the

other, Johnson kicked things offwhile talking to race proprietorswho were standing at the startpoint in Atlanta.

The partnership betweenAtlanta and Kuwait is an exten-sion of the strong support Atlantagives its local military community.With Third U.S. Army, the leadorganization for U.S. militaryoperations in Kuwait, beingheadquartered in Atlanta, it’s onlynatural that this support wouldextend to Kuwait, Johnson said.

Robert Schnell, a 32-year-oldwith the 158th Corps SupportBattalion, a National Guard unit

from Arizona, finished first over-all with a time of 34 minutes 5seconds. A member of the ArmyNational Guard Marathon Team,Schnell has placed first in nineraces since arriving in Kuwait inOctober 2004. While not ideal,running conditions for the racewere as good as could beexpected in a desert environ-ment, Schnell said.

Second place honors went toMichael Paul Harvey, a 27-year-old 335th member who came inwith a time of 37 minutes 2 sec-onds. Harvey, who usually com-pletes his two-mile Army

Physical Fitness Test in 9 min-utes 45 seconds, prepared forthe race by running at least anhour a day in the weeks leadingup to the run, he said.

In addition to the more than1,000 runners who participatedin the Patton’s Own run, approxi-mately 1,000 servicemembersran in satellite races held July 3at Camp Victory, Iraq andBagram Air Base, Afghanistan.The track club waived the usual$20 fee for overseas participantsand provided complimentaryPeachtree T-shirts for race fin-ishers, Johnson said.

As has been the case with each of the nine runs he has participated in since arriving in Kuwait in October2004, Robert Schnell, a Soldier with the 158th Corps Support Battalion, took first place.

Left: Ricky Huggler, a member of the 1185th Transportation TerminalBrigade, celebrated his 35th birthday by signing up for the race earlyin the morning July 4. Center: A Soldier with Wisconsin’s 1158thTransportation Company tries to keep cool by running through a water

sprayer about 7 kilometers into the 10-kkilometer race. Right: KathrynGonzales, a Sailor with Naval Expeditionary Logistics Support Force –Forward Oscar, distributes commemorative T-sshirts to race participantsafter the race.

Photo by Sgt. Matt MillhamPhoto by Sgt. Matt Millham Photo by Spc. Curt Cashour



Organizedlong before

the dayThe 377th celebrated the final

full month of its tour Fridaywith an organizational day, a

fitting term for a unit thatredefined the word.

Above: A miniature wave erupted in the stands as the 377th TSC’s sandlot softball game got under way.

Below: Maj. Gen. Paul E. Mock addressed members of the 377th TSC following a brief awards ceremony. The commanding general laudedthe accomplishments of the unit and its subordinate commands.

Photo by Master Sgt. Hak Haskins, 377th TSC Public Affairs

Photo by Spc. Heather Allen, 377th Theater Support Command


Story by Master Sgt. Hak Haskins377th Theater Support Command Public Affairs

Two hours before the 377th TheaterSupport Command’s organizational day lastFriday the unit’s commanding general madeit clear that organizational skills were com-mon long before the party was everplanned.

Maj. Gen. Paul E. Mock reminded mem-bers of the 377th of their accomplishments,and the achievements of the command’ssubordinate units, during the 377th’s currenttour, which is scheduled to terminate some-time next month.

“From the seaports and airfields to thebattlefield, the unit ensured that Soldiers,vehicles, equipment and supplies arrivedand moved to the point of greatest need,”Mock said.

His speech, which followed a briefawards ceremony, was part of a day filledwith activities for the unit he has command-ed since last August.

Each member received a T-shirt, base-ball cap, belt buckle and unit coin as part ofthe commemoration. An American-style pic-nic lunch – featuring two roasted hogs –preceded sandlot softball and a chance totake a few hours off work.

But the relaxation at the end of the daywas made possible by what began nearly ayear ago.

Mock read a prepared list, he said, toprevent him from reciting the litany of whatthe 377th completed while in theater.The 377th:* Provided command and control to more

than 8,700 Army and coalition Soldiers – 12,994 at the peak of the surge – who deployed nearly 140,000 troops, 2.1 mil-lion tons of materiel, 240 million gallons of fuel, more than 108,000 vehicles and containers, and added Level 3 armor to 13,500 vehicles.

* Simultaneously deployed coalition part-ners.

* Sustained theater logistics in dozens of

377th followedsuccessfulroadway

nodes covering hundreds of miles of supply routes while defending against an aggressive enemy.

* Consolidated more than 80 percent of the aged accounting transactions.

* Recovered, disposed of or put back into the Army system more than $3.8 billion worth of equipment.

* Transported 250 million liters of bottled water.

* Provided spiritual guidance through the chaplain’s office through services attend-ed by more than 2,200 each week, while providing counseling to more than 144,000 Soldiers who were redeploying or going on R&R.

* Worked with the Humanitarian Operations

Center to provide 160,000 cases of food rations to Iraq and three containers of mattresses, pillows and similar items.The 377th accomplished those feats, and

more, without a single case of AWOL andonly a handful of disciplinary actions, thecommander said.

“But it all boils down to one commondenominator: you the Soldier,” Mock said.“You are members of the finest fightingforce the world has ever seen.

“You have shown nothing but continuousimprovement through the entire deploymentperiod,” he said. “You took pride in yourorganization and represented the armedforces superbly, as you have done for yournation.”

Above: One of thetwo swine cooked forthe day was doneHawaiian style - in afire pit.

Left: Soldiers stood inline to fill their platesat the organizationalday picnic.

Photo by Capt. Chris Rimel, 377th TSC Public Affairs

Photo by Master Sgt. Hak Haskins, 377th TSC Public Affairs

10 Desert Voice May 25, 2005

Coalition within the coalitionStory and photo by Spc. Aimee Felix

Much like the U.S. military, Britain, the sec-ond largest partner in the coalition rebuildingIraq, has a support headquarters in Kuwait.Unlike the U.S. military, though, which hasone support troop for every nine troops inIraq, Britain has just one support troop forevery 675 British troops up north.

A team of 13 troops make up the Britishsupport element in Kuwait. Known asOperational Stand Down, these troops sup-port roughly 9,000 British troops in Iraq aswell as non-U.S. forces serving under Britishcommand in Iraq.

Operating out of a circle of trailers thatserve as their homes and offices, theseBritons are responsible for supplying troops inIraq with everything from engineering equip-ment to a place to unwind.

Operational Stand Down, which moved toArifjan from CampDoha almost threemonths ago, regular-ly houses about 100rest and recupera-tion troops at a time.A local resourcesteam, several engi-neers, R&R andgeneral staff person-nel all work withinthe complex and areon the third month of their six-month deploy-ment to Kuwait.

Of the 13 British troops, two are Nepalese.During two years of war between Nepal andBritain in the early 1800s, the British wereimpressed by the fighting skills of theNepalese. So, as part of an 1816 peacetreaty between Nepal and Britain, a large

number of Nepalese troops, called Gurkhas,volunteered for service in the British military.

The two Nepalese soldiers working inOSD, Sappr. Gureng Surya and Cpl. RaiBagmani, purchase local materials and equip-ment, and coordinate for equipment to befixed for the 70th (Gurkha) Field SupportSquadron deployed to Iraq.

Making local purchases and coordinatingfor equipment to be fixed by local contractorsis also the main task for most of the otherBritish support troops.

A local resources team, made up of engi-neers and combat shoppers, gets damagedelectrical and mechanical equipment fixedand purchases whatever troops in Iraq can’tget through their supply chain, said localresources team member Cpl. Allan Bodill.Warrant Officer 2 Gary Court, another mem-ber of the team, coordinates with CombatSupport Associates at Camp Doha for the

equipment, which isbrought from Iraq toKuwait, to be fixed.Anything CSA can’tdo, Court contracts outto local civilian compa-nies.

Purchasers alsobuy equipment andmaterials that could bedelivered from theUnited Kingdom but

are more easily and efficiently purchased inKuwait, said Court.

Aside from providing support for units inIraq, OSD’s other mission, the in-theater R&Rprogram, provides a two- to four-day breakfor British troops deployed to Iraq. It’s espe-cially useful for troops on deployments shorterthan six months who are ineligible for the two-

week R&R British troops on six-month toursget. Warrant Officer 1 Mark Phillips, OSD’scommanding officer compared this mission tothe job of a hotel manager, a reason he pro-vides to explain why this is his least physicallytaxing deployment yet. His other deploymentsto Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Brunei weremuch more challenging.

That and the variety of Morale, Welfareand Recreation activities available at CampArifjan make this deployment the least physi-cally demanding one for the other dozen menon the team, too.

“This is not what I expected from a deploy-ment. Usually I’d be in a tent or in the back ofa wagon somewhere,” said Bodill, who hasdeployed to Kosovo, Bosnia and in support ofthe Gulf War – or Op Telec 1, as the Britishrefer to the Gulf War.

Court is amazed at how much Kuwait Cityhas changed since he deployed here in sup-port of Desert Storm 14 years ago, he said.

Aside from the comfort and safety ofKuwait, the British troops are entertained bythe novelty that is country music night. “Wedon’t do anything like that unless we’ve beendrinking,” said Phillips, a regular at Zone 6’scountry music nights.

Not that these troops seem too broken upabout being away from their families; theMWR, ease of the deployment and accessi-bility to phones and Internet makes the timeaway from home easier.

“She knew the government comes first,”said Sgt. Kenny Bertram, referring to thefiancée he plans to marry upon his return “ifshe’s not cheeky,” he said in a thick Scottishaccent.

Phillips concurred with this sentiment andlooked at the bright side. “Distance makes theheart grow fonder.”

“This is not what I expect-ed from a deployment.Usually I’d be in a tent orin the back of a wagonsomewhere.” – Cpl. Allan Bodill

Sappr. Gureng Surya and Cpl.Rai Bagmani are Nepalese

troops serving in the Britisharmy. Nepal and Great Britain

have had this arrangement fornearly two centuries, and the

troops are known as Ghurkas,a name derived from a small

town in western Nepal.

11Desert Voice May 25, 2005

Victory

Virginia

Spearhead/SPOD

Navistar

Buehring

Kuwaiti Naval Base

flagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR Tent 4ThursdayGina Notrica, MWR stage (Call for info)Walking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cell flagpoleTae-Kwon-Do class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent 1Friday Walking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cellflagpoleSaturdayBazaar (Call for info)Tae-Kwon-Do Class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent 1SundayBazaar (Call for info)Walking Club (10 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cellflagpoleMondayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cellflagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR Tent 4TuesdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cellflagpoleTae-Kwon-Do class, 7 p.m., MWR Tent 1WednesdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cellflagpoleAerobics, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., MWR Tent 4For more information call 828-1340

FridayDodge Ball Tournament, 6 p.m. (Call for info)Sunday“Survivor”, 7 p.m., MWR gymFor more information call 839-1063

WednesdayHorseshoe Tournament practice, 8 a.m. to 10p.m., MWR centerThursdayHorseshoe Tournament practice, 8 a.m. to 10p.m., MWR centerFridayHorseshoe Tournament practice, 8 a.m. to 10p.m., MWR centerSaturdayHorseshoe Tournament, 6 to 10 p.m., HorseshoepitsSundayHorseshoe Tournament, 6 to 10 p.m., HorseshoepitsMondayAir hockey tournament practice, 8 a.m. to 10p.m., MWR centerTuesdayAir hockey tournament practice, 8 a.m. to 10p.m., MWR centerSmoking cessation classes, 10 a.m., Rec. tentEducation/Awareness/Prevention, 1 p.m., Rec.tentWednesdayAir hockey tournament practice, 8 a.m. to 10p.m., MWR centerFor more information call 844-1137

WednesdayUSO/AFE Gina Notrica, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stageHip Hop Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food Court Lap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolThursdayCountry Western Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1Community CenterMexican Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food CourtR&B/Old School Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stage Cardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and flex, 8a.m. Circuit weight training 3 p.m., Zone 2 gymLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolFridaySalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterR&B Night/Old School, 7 p.m., Zone 1 FoodCourtHip Hop Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stageArifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 gymSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolInterval training, 5:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.Zone 1 gymSaturdayJenga Tournament, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterR&B/Old School, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterMexican Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food CourtCountry Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stageAudie Murphy Club study sessions, 3 p.m.,Building 508 Room 25BCircuit weight training, 5:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 1 p.m.and 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolSundayMexican Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 CommunityCenterHip Hop Music Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food CourtSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stageLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and Flex, 8a.m., Circuit weight training, 1 p.m., StepAerobics, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymMondayKaraoke Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterArifjan Boxing Team, 7:30 p.m., Zone 6 gym Lap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolLegs, butts and guts, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and flex 8a.m., Step aerobics, 1 p.m., Circuit weight train-ing, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymTuesdayBingo Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolCardio kickboxing, 5:30 a.m., Stretch and flex, 8a.m., Circuit weight training, 1 p.m., Step aero-bics, 3 p.m., Zone 1 gymWednesdayCountry Night, 7 p.m., Zone 6 stageHip Hop Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Community CenterLap swimming, 5 to 7 a.m., poolSalsa Night, 7 p.m., Zone 1 Food Court For more information call 430-1202

WednesdayWalking Club (5 miles), 5:30 a.m., command cell

Community happenings for July 13 through July 20Arifjan For more information call 825-1302

WednesdayPoker tournament, 7 p.m., Multifunction tentFridaySummer Olympic Award Ceremony, 8:30 a.m.,Command cellTuesdayBazaar, 10 a.m., Multifunction tent For more information call 823-1033

WednesdayCountry Night, 8 p.m., Dusty RoomThursdayPing Pong Tournament, 7 p.m., MWRFridayBazaar, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Dusty RoomSaturdayDominoes Tournament, 7 p.m., MWRSundayBilliards Tournament, 7 p.m., Sports LoungeMondayPing Pong Tournament, 7 p.m., MWRTuesdayBingo, 7 p.m., Dusty RoomWednesdayHoreshoes, 4 p.m., Horesehoe pitsFor more information call 832-1045

Send your event and activity listings to the Desert Voice editorat the e-mail address listed on the back page.

Earn 1 semester hour in one week forFREE!! Each credit earned can be usedtoward a Military Science Degree with CentralTexas College (CTC), as transfer elective cred-its and promotion points.

CTC is offering the following AdvancedSkills Education Program (ASEP) classes insupport of NCO Professional Development.Each class is held at the Camp ArifjanEducation Center from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Theschedule is as follows:

* July 17-22: Performance Orientated Training* July 24-29: Counseling Techniques

In addition, CTC will also offer FunctionalAptitude Skills Training (FAST) classes to helptroops improve their GT scores. You maychose between the morning or afternoon ses-sion. The ASVAB test will be given upon classcompletion. July 10-28, Su-Th, 8 a.m. -Noonor 1 p.m. -5 p.m.

New schedules are posted regularly. Visitthe Camp Arifjan Education Center for moredetails or call 430-1381/1373. Please direct allemail inquiries [email protected].

Arifjan Education Center

EditorCFLCC PAO/Desert Voice Camp ArifjanAPO AE [email protected]

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BaghdadBy Maj. James D. CrabtreeMultinational Corps-Iraq Public Affairs Office

By Spc. Taleatha Samantha John-JJules

436th Movement Control Battalion

In a minute there is time.For love cannot be defined.An everlasting love sees everlasting beauty.This is why we must free our mind.

In a minute there is time,time to breathe, time to seewho we really need.A sign of morality.Memorialize your thoughts and dreams be forever free.In a minute there is time, time to see how much you mean to me.

Time

Sometimes you get ‘emsometimes you don’tBy Timothy R. DillinghamForward Operating Base McKenzie, Iraq

When you’re trying to find a bomb bearerWhile you’re fighting in the war on terrorYou have to be cautiousWhen nerves make you nauseous‘Cause God forbid you make an error

patton’s own

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